La Rochelle’s hopes of clipping Leinster’s wings in the Investec Champions Cup this Sunday have been dented by the suspension handed down to hooker Tolu Latu. The 31-year-old was cited by France officials after receiving a yellow card in the 50th minute of last Sunday’s Top 14 win over Toulouse.
This led to a disciplinary hearing in the middle of the week and the ruling handed down on Wednesday evening was a three-match ban. This means the front-rower will not be playing for Ronan O’Gara’s side again this month.
La Rochelle host European rivals Leinster at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre this Sunday but former Wallabies hooker Latu is now set to be missing and will not feature in the next Champions Cup match at Benetton on January 18 and then against Toulon 14 days after that. He won’t play in the top 14 either. January 26th
The Ligue Nationale de Rugby statement reads: “Tolu Latu was found responsible for dangerous play in the context of a ruck or maul. (iv) A player falls on another player or collides with a lower extremity.
“The four-week suspension was the starting point. The sanctions were extended by one week in consideration of aggravating circumstances (disciplinary records).
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He continued, “The sanctions were reduced by two weeks in consideration of the mitigating circumstances (acknowledgment of facts, conduct before and during the hearing, expression of remorse, etc.). Ratu has therefore been suspended for three weeks.”
With France international Pierre Bourgarit yet to return from a serious leg injury sustained in September, O’Gara is likely to be given a starting spot against Leinster by Quentin Respiauq-Brett.
Lespiaucq-Brettes provided cover from the bench in the European games against Bath and Bristol last month, and was also a substitute in the club’s final league win over Toulouse last weekend.
